Jeffers was interested in timeless forces at work in the individual, innature, the cosmos, in cultures. One might say that Jeffers's poetic careerwas inspired and in fact turned on his attempt to deal with, understand, and

embrace these dynamic energies. A modernist by necessity, he seemed to bealways just resisting the question, "So what does it all mean?" In thistension in his work, to acknowledge forces without asking why, the readerwitnesses one of the great interior monologues of the 20th Century. He wasmesmerized by the relentless pounding of the ocean on the shoreline andcliffs of northern California as well as the death and birth of stars. Hesimultaneously struggled against and attempted to celebrate the dissolutionof cultures and individuals. His life and work were shaped by hisengagement with these protean energies. His own house-building and poem-building practices were thought through this lens of change: "Stone-cuttersfighting time with marble, you fore-defeated / Challengers of oblivion . .."

The CFP invites papers on this most important 20th Century theme: change.The 20th Century grappled with theories of entropy, expanding universes,political dialectics, dialogics, evolution, the stability of the concept ofself. Physics, astronomy, and modernist theories of all kinds questionedassumed notions of permanence, perspective, and normalcy. Jeffersepitomizes these concerns as he contemplates the end of America, the end ofthe life of the sun, and the beginning of new, unimag- inable lives on theother side of the known and the familiar, the expected and accepted.Frequently assumed to be a misanthropist because of his themes, Jeffersseems much more now a thinker very much in touch with the most importantissues of his day, including politics, natural sciences, psych- ology andmore.

We encourage a broad set of papers that deal with change as a definingaspect of Jeffers's work as well as 20th century scientific and culturallife. Currently, in the early 21st century, there appears to be a politicaland cultural backlash to change and ambiguity. Therefore, in addition toassessing Jeffers, change, and the 20th Century, it is hoped that somepapers will also read Jeffers as he might "read" current cultural andpolitical trajectories.

The Brazil Ranch, very recently acquired by the Forest Service, is astunning 1200 acre reserve overlooking the Pacific in the heart of JeffersCountry. These ridges are among those that Jeffers's characters ArthurBarclay and Clare Walker traversed in their wanderings. Details will beforth-coming to both attendees and presenters. We hope to allow for a2-hour hike to the top of Hurricane Ridge for a sweeping view of the coastfrom Yankee Point in the north all the way down to Point Sur to the south.For a preview, go to www.brazilranch.org <http://www.brazilranch.org/<http://www.brazilranch.org/> > , andcheck out the film production clips.

The RJA invites proposals and panels that explore Jeffers's treatment of the

theme of change. While acknowledging the normal practice of reading a paper,

the RJA encourages well thought out, well timed, and conversationallydelivered presentations that engage the audience. Proposals for the poetryreading at the Friday evening reception will also be accepted. Emailproposals to Prof Ron Olowin at rpolowin_at_stmarys-ca.edu<mailto:rpolowin_at_stmarys-ca.edu> by January 15, 2006, or write:

Prof. Ron Olowin

2006 RJA Conference Coordinator

Dept. of Physics and Astronomy

St. Mary's College of California

1928 Saint Mary's Road

Moraga, CA 94575

* For papers or panels: A 250 word proposal or abstract.

* For Friday evening poetry reading in Carmel or environs: sendmaterials for reading (not to exceed a 10-minute reading).